Explosive and solvent therefor



Patented Apr. 15, 1930 No Drawing.

The subject of this invention is an explosive and a solvent therefor.

The main object of this invention is the production of an explosive containing nitroguanidine and the provision of a solvent for such nitroguanidine.

Nitroguanidine is a well known explosive 16 substance which is used both in high ex- TENNEY L. DAVIS, OF NORWELL, MASSACHUSETTS EXPLOSIVE AND SOLVENT THEREFOR Application filed November 8, 1927. Serial No. 231,981.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, 22 STAT. L, 625) lution, the nitroguanidine crystallizes out in splendid white needles of a fibrous texture which are diflicult to powder and which are not proper to incorporate with colloided nitrocellulose. N itro-guanidine is insoluble or sparingly soluble in the common organic solvents, such as alcohol, ether, acetic ester,

to a uniform colloid.

carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, petroleum ether, naphtha, acetone, benzene, toluene, etc., etc., and none of these substances may be used for converting nitroguanidine alone or a mixture of nitrocellulose with nitroguanidine in- I have discovered that the aliphatic nitramine or nitro-amines as, for example, methyl plosives and in propellent powders. As a nitro-amine, ethyl nitro-amine, dimethyl nihigh explosive it is about as powerful as trinitrotoluene and has been used in various mixtures-with ammonium nitrate, paraflin, etc., in bombs and for other purposes where an insensiti u and powerful high explosive is needed. It has the further advantage of being exceptionally cool. The experiments of Vieille showed that this explosive produces a 2 temperature of only 907 C. Its coolness commends it for use in safety explosives. If incorporated into nitrocellulose powder 'it renders the powder flashless without impairtro-amine, methyl butyl nitro-amine, etc., are solvents for nitroguanidine; the explosive into a non-crystalline mass and may be used for preparing colloids of nitroguanidine or of mixtures of nitrocellulose with nitro-guanidine. They have the advantage that they contain a nitro-group and so contribute to the vigor of the explosive. They have the further advantage that they are generally soluble both in water and in the usual organic solvents and thus permit the use of the usual solvents in the preparation of a They convert ing its ballistic power, and, as Vieille showed, nitro-cellulose nitro-guanidine colloid.

reduces erosion and lengthens the accuracy life of the gun.

At the present time, nitroguanidine is best prepared by treating guanidine nitrate with concentrated sulphuric acid. When the resulting solution or mixture is run into cold phatic nitroamine.

water the nitroguan'idine precipitates out in the form of an impalpable white powder so finely divided that it may readily be incor- "I claim:

porated into a nitrocellulose colloid which explosive.

40 may be shaped in the usual manner into smooth progressive burning powder grains.

The impalpable powder of nitroguanidine, amine invigorator.

prepared as described, is, however, not pure, for it contains a certain amount of the sulphuric acid from which it was precipitated. The nitroguanidine must be freed from this acid by recrystallization. Water appears to be the only feasible solvent, for hot water dissolves considerable nitroguanidine while cold water dissolves but little. From the so- 5. The method of coll dine consisting in treating the nitro-guanidine with a aliphatic nitro-amine.

' TENNEY L. DAVIS.

1. An explosive comprising intro-guanidine and an aliphatic nitro-amine.

2. A composition containing a nitro-cellulose nitro-guanidine explosive and an ali- 3. A composition containing a nitroguanidine explosive and an aliphatic nitroamine invigorator which Is a solvent for tne 4. A composition containing a nitroguanidine explosive and an aliphatic nitrooiding nitro-guani- 

